Spicy Stir-Fried Octopus (Nakji Bokkeum)
A Fiery and Appetizing Dinner Dish: Spicy Stir-Fried Octopus
Experience the irresistible chewy texture of fresh octopus in this vibrant stir-fry. Generously seasoned with Korean chili powder (gochugaru), this dish offers a thrillingly spicy and numbing flavor that warms you up from the inside out! It’s exceptionally delicious when paired with refreshing seasoned bean sprouts and chewy noodles. A truly satisfying meal! (Recipe inspired by ‘Sumine Banchan’)
Main Ingredients- 3 small octopuses (approx. 450g)
- 380g Tteokbokki rice cakes (soft, pliable type)
- 2 stalks of scallions
- 1 onion
- 1/4 carrot
- 3 Korean green chili peppers (Cheongyang chili peppers)
- 2 red chili peppers
- 10 cloves of garlic
Sauce Base- 8 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 3.5 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Water
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp Sesame oil
Additional Seasoning- 8 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds
Other Ingredients- 2 Tbsp All-purpose flour (for cleaning octopus)
- 1 Tbsp Salt (for cleaning octopus)
- Seasoned bean sprouts & boiled noodles (for serving, as desired)
- 8 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 3.5 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Water
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp Sesame oil
Additional Seasoning- 8 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds
Other Ingredients- 2 Tbsp All-purpose flour (for cleaning octopus)
- 1 Tbsp Salt (for cleaning octopus)
- Seasoned bean sprouts & boiled noodles (for serving, as desired)
- 2 Tbsp All-purpose flour (for cleaning octopus)
- 1 Tbsp Salt (for cleaning octopus)
- Seasoned bean sprouts & boiled noodles (for serving, as desired)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the sauce base. In a bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients: gochugaru, soy sauce, water, sugar, and sesame oil. Mix them well. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes to allow the gochugaru to fully hydrate and bloom, which enhances the flavor depth.
Step 2
Now, let’s prepare the vegetables and rice cakes. Slice the onion and scallions roughly. Cut the carrot into thin, long rectangular pieces. If your tteokbokki rice cakes are firm, you might want to soak them in warm water for a bit to soften them. Slice them into bite-sized pieces. Slant-cut the green and red chili peppers, removing the stems. Halve or quarter the whole garlic cloves.
Step 3
Time to clean the octopus thoroughly. In a bowl, place the octopus, 2 tablespoons of flour, and 1 tablespoon of salt. Gently but firmly knead and rub the octopus with your hands. This action effectively removes any slime and impurities. After rubbing, rinse the octopus thoroughly under cold running water several times until it’s completely clean.
Step 4
To achieve a perfectly chewy texture, we’ll quickly blanch the octopus. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, carefully add the cleaned octopus. Blanch it for a mere 3 to 4 seconds. Be very careful not to overcook it, as this will make the octopus tough. This quick blanch sets the texture.
Step 5
Immediately transfer the blanched octopus into a bowl of ice-cold water. Rinse it under cold water a few more times. This shock in cold water helps to firm up the octopus, making it delightfully chewy. After rinsing, drain the octopus well in a colander. Excess water can dilute the sauce later.
Step 6
Carefully remove the eyes, beak (mouth area), and any internal organs from the head of the octopus. Removing these parts ensures a cleaner presentation and taste.
Step 7
Now, cut the octopus into bite-sized pieces. Slice the head into 2-3 pieces and cut the tentacles into manageable lengths, then cut those into 2-3 pieces as well. Slightly larger pieces are great for a satisfying bite.
Step 8
Let’s marinate the octopus. Add the cut octopus and 8 tablespoons of minced garlic to the pre-mixed sauce. Gently toss and mix everything together, ensuring each piece of octopus is well-coated with the spicy marinade. Proper marination is key to flavor.
Step 9
Add the prepared onion, chili peppers, and carrot to the marinated octopus. Mix gently again. This completes the preliminary preparation for your delicious stir-fry. The colorful vegetables make it look even more appealing.
Step 10
Heat a wide pan or wok over high heat. Add the marinated octopus and vegetables. Stir-fry quickly for about 1 minute, allowing the ingredients to combine and begin cooking.
Step 11
Once the octopus starts to cook, add the tteokbokki rice cakes and the roughly chopped garlic. Continue to stir-fry for another 2 minutes, allowing the rice cakes to soften and the garlic to release its fragrance.
Step 12
Finally, add the sliced scallions to the pan. Stir-fry for an additional 3 minutes and 30 seconds over high heat until the vegetables are tender-crisp and everything is well combined. The dish is almost ready!
Step 13
Turn off the heat. Immediately drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds. Give it a final quick toss to evenly distribute the aromatic sesame oil and seeds. This adds a final touch of richness and flavor.
Step 14
Serve your delicious Nakji Bokkeum over steamed rice for a fantastic meal, or pair it with refreshing seasoned bean sprouts and tender boiled noodles for an even more delightful experience! (Tip for seasoned bean sprouts: Simply blanch bean sprouts, then toss with fish sauce (like anchovy or pollack sauce), minced garlic, and a drizzle of sesame oil.)
